161 



CUPHEA LANCEOLATA. 



(Lance-leaved Cuphea.) 



NATURAL ORDER. 



LYTHRACE*. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Cuphea (Jacq.) Calyx tubulosus basi superiore gibbus limbo ampliatus, dentibus 6-erectis, 

 sinubus 6 nunc productis parvis nunc obsoletis. Petala 6-7 insequalia. Stamina 11-14, rarius 

 6-7 fauci calycis inserta insequalia. Glandula crassa sub ovario. Stylus filiformis. Stigma 

 simplex aut subbifidum. Capsula membranacea calyce obtecta 1-2 locularis, demum per pla- 

 centam deflexam simul cum calyce fissa. Semina suborbiculata compressa aptera. Herbae aut 

 suffrutices. Folia opposita rarius verticillata integerrima. Pedunculi interpetiolares uni aut 

 rarius multiflori. Flores saepius cemui. Calyces colorati. Petala violacea aut alba. — Decandolle 

 Prod. vol. iii. p. 83. 



Calyx tubulose, the upper part at the base gibbous, enlarged at the limb, teeth 6, erect, 

 sinuses 6, sometimes elongated, small, sometimes obsolete. Petals 6 or 7, unequal. Stamens 

 11 to 14, rarely 6 to 7, inserted in the throat of the calyx, unequal. Gland thick under the 

 ovarium. Style filiform. Stigma simple, or somewhat bifid. Capsule membranaceous, covered 

 with the calyx, 1 to 2-celled, at length dividing, together -with the calyx, through a deflexed 

 placenta. Seeds somewhat orbiculate, compressed, wingless. Herbaceous or suffruticose plants. 

 Leaves opposite, rarely verticillate, entire. Peduncles between the petiole and the stem, one, or 

 more rarely many-flowered. Flowers oftentimes drooping. Calyces coloured. Petals violet- 

 coloured or white. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 

 C. lanceolata ; villosa viscosissima ; caule herbacea ; foliis oppositis breviter petiolatis, ovato- 

 lanceolatis sub acuminatis, obsolete dentatis ; floribus pedicellatis solitariis cernuis ; calycibus 6- 

 dentatis ; petalis 6 obovatis, superioribus 1 2 maximis ; staminibus 2 longioribus, ultra antheram 

 lanatis. 



Villous, very clammy ; stem herbaceous ; leaves opposite, shortly petiolate, ovate, lanceo- 

 late, somewhat acuminate, obsoletely-toothed ; flowers pedicellate, solitary, drooping ; calyx 

 6-toothed ; petals 6, obovate, the two upper ones the largest, two stamens longer than the rest, 

 woolly beyond the anther. 



Cuphea lanceolata. — {Ait.)— Brit. Flor. Gard. t. 402. 



Descb. Annual. Stem branched, about two feet high, covered all over with glandular 

 hairs, from which exudes a viscid resinous balsamic secretion. Leaves on very short petioles, 

 opposite, ovate, lanceolate, covered with a soft villous pubescence, tapering to the apex ; the 

 lower leaves obscurely-toothed, the upper ones entire. Flowers pedunculate, solitary. Petals 



YOL. II. NO. XXIII. JANUARY, 1839. Y 



LINNEAN SYSTEM. 



DODECANDRI A MONOGYNIA. 



